It's been a week since I got home and I have had a chance to think about what I saw in Las Vegas. For starters, the downtown area seems more viable than the last time I was there. The Fremont Street Experience is crowded at night, and the people are filling the casinos. Also, the value downtown is probably in general better than on the strip. (I might be biased because I stayed at the Golden Nugget, which is downtown).
While downtown I discovered a great place to eat and drink. The Main Street Station has a microbrewery with a stout to kill for. It is called Wild Cherry Stout and it lives up to it's name. I went in twice and each time the experience was good. And the buffet is one of the lower priced in Vegas, but still had a huge variety and the food was really good! I don't think I will stay at this place but I sure will be back for the food and beer.
I guess the best surprise I had in Vegas was betting at the old Binion's Horseshoe. The girls working at the sports book were always friendly and always comped me when I put in my baseball wagers (which I won five out of seven for a tidy profit)! Too bad the same couldn't be said for Binion's coffee shop. The service was terrible and the food was average. The hostess acted as if she wanted to be some where else when I came in to be seated. She acted like she was doing people a favor to seat them. Hey lady, they're paying your salary. And the only other disappointment I can think of off hand was waiting for Gray Line Tours to get a bus to get me to my hotel. I waited for 55 minutes before the shuttle showed up and then it took another 40 minutes to go downtown from the airport. I would suggest you find another company if you find yourself in a similar situation.
While in Vegas I had the chance to check out the new Hooter's Hotel and Casino. Don't waste your time. The restaurant is the same chicken wings as you get anywhere else in the country. The only problem is the beer is twice as much for a draft as here in St. Louis. They were getting four dollars for a draft beer the night I was there. It will be interesting to see how Hooters does against the other players there. I think after the newness wears off they will struggle. While the Hooters girls are fine looking, they are not the only girls in town you can look at. And, the other places show a lot more than the Hooters girls if you know what I mean. ;-)
I will write more when I have time, but overall I had a blast. Talk to you soon.
